18. Vice-Admiral Taylorasked the Minister of Works whether Servicemen returning to civil life with their homes requiring second stage repairs will be given priority in this respect.
§ The Minister of Works (Mr. Sandys)Local authorities are carrying out these repairs according to a systematic plan. The grant of priorities to large classes would slow down the general rate of progress. Special treatment is, however, given in individual cases of hardship, including those of ex-Servicemen.
Vice-Admiral TaylorWill my right hon. Friend reconsider this matter in view of the fact that it is the general policy 1214 to give special consideration to the ex-Serviceman, so that when he returns to his home he may have priority in the final repair to his house and thereby give him a home instead of merely a shelter? The number involved at any one time would not be great.
§ Mr. SandysOf course we all have sympathy with the case of the ex-Serviceman. These houses are mostly being done one after another in a row, and leap-frogging from one street to another interrupts the flow of work. By and large the best policy is to get the job as a whole done as quickly as possible.
§ 22. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Works whether he will have inquiries made as to the progress of the work being done on bomb-damaged houses in a locality of which he has been informed, with a view to hastening the repairs.
§ Mr. SandysYes, Sir.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs my right hon. Friend aware that the lack of supervision and the refusal of many of the men to do a fair day's work, on homes which have been badly bombed in this district and are now open to the elements, is a public scandal; and what is he going to do about it?
§ Mr. SandysWhat I am going to do is what my hon. Friend has suggested, to make inquiries and let him know.
§ 23. Mr. Henry Brookeasked the Minister of Works whether he can give an assurance that a householder in the London area, who is able to do repair or maintenance work to his home himself, can do it without being obliged to obtain a licence, even though the cost of the work if done by paid labour might exceed £10.
§ Mr. SandysThe value of a householder's own labour is not taken into account in assessing the cost of any work carried out by him.
§ 24. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Works whether he has issued, or will issue, a circular drawing the attention of local authorities and builders engaged in the permanent repair of Georgian windows damaged by blast to the importance of restoring the glazing-bars.
§ Mr. SandysWhen the time comes to carry out permanent repairs, windows will, of course, be reinstated in their original style.
§ Mr. KeelingIs my right hon. Friend not aware that some of these windows have been already repaired without the glazing bars?
§ Mr. SandysWe have not yet reached the stage of permanent repairs. At the moment we have to get the immediate job done as quickly as possible. Putting in additional bars in the windows would hold up the work.